Jason Wright facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jason Wright

Wright in 2022
Washington Commanders
Position:	President
Personal information
Born:	(1982-07-12) July 12, 1982 (age 42) Upland, California, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:	212 lb (96 kg)
Career information
High school:	Diamond Bar (Diamond Bar, California)
College:	Northwestern (2000–2003)
Undrafted:	2004
Career history
As player:
San Francisco 49ers (2004)* Atlanta Falcons (2004) Cleveland Browns (2005) Arizona Cardinals (2009)
As executive:
Washington Football Team / Commanders (2020–present) President
Career highlights and awards
Bobby Bowden Award (2003) 2003 Motor City Bowl co-MVP Second-team All-Big Ten (2003)
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 80 Carries: 168 Rushing yards: 633 Rushing touchdowns: 2 Receptions: 72 Receiving yards: 581 Receiving touchdowns: 3
Player stats at PFR

Jason Gomillion Wright (born July 12, 1982) is an American businessman. He is the president of the Washington Commanders, a team in the National Football League (NFL).

Jason grew up in the Greater Los Angeles area. He went to Northwestern University in the early 2000s. There, he played running back for the Wildcats football team. He also earned a degree in psychology.

After college, Jason was not chosen in the NFL draft. He briefly played for the San Francisco 49ers in 2004. Later, he was a reserve running back and played on special teams for the Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, and Arizona Cardinals. He was a team captain and a player representative for the NFL players' union. He retired from playing in 2011.

After his football career, Jason went back to school. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree in 2013. This degree helps people learn how to manage businesses. He then worked for a company called McKinsey & Company. He helped other companies improve their workplace culture and diversity.

In 2020, Jason Wright made history. He was hired as president of the Washington Commanders. This made him the first Black NFL team president ever. He is also a business partner with several other organizations.

Early Life and College Football

Jason Wright was born on July 12, 1982, in Upland, California. He grew up in Pomona. He went to Diamond Bar High School in Diamond Bar, California. There, he earned a "letter" in football and track. This means he was a top athlete in those sports.

He earned a football scholarship to Northwestern University. He joined the team in 2000. He first played as a wide receiver before becoming a running back.

In 2003, Jason was named co-MVP of the 2003 Motor City Bowl. He ran for 237 yards in that game. He was also chosen for the 2003 All-Big Ten Conference football team. This means he was one of the best players in his college league.

Jason finished his college career with 32 touchdowns. He ran for 2,625 yards, which was the fourth-highest in Northwestern history. He also gained 4,030 all-purpose yards, which was third-highest.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. He was also part of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He led the school's Fellowship of Christian Athletes group. In 2003, he received the first-ever Bobby Bowden Award.

NFL Playing Career

After college, Jason went to the NFL Combine. This is where college players show their skills to NFL teams. However, he was not chosen in the 2004 NFL Draft.

He then signed with the San Francisco 49ers. But he was released before the regular season started. He later joined the practice squad of the Atlanta Falcons. A practice squad is a group of players who train with the team but are not on the main roster. He was moved to the active roster in December 2004.

In 2005, Jason signed with the Cleveland Browns. He scored his first NFL touchdown that year. He played for the Browns for three seasons. He was a backup running back and played on third-down plays.

In 2009, he signed with the Arizona Cardinals. He became a team captain for the Cardinals. He also represented the players during the 2011 NFL lockout. A lockout is when team owners stop players from working. He retired from football later that year.

Jason finished his NFL career with 633 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. He also had 581 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns.

Business Career and Leadership

After his football career, Jason wanted to learn about business. He went to the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. In 2013, he earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. This degree teaches people how to manage and lead businesses.

Later that year, he became a consultant for McKinsey & Company. This company helps other businesses solve problems. Jason advised companies on their organizational culture. This means how people work together and the values of a company. He also helped with workplace diversity, making sure workplaces include people from all backgrounds.

Jason has also served on the board of trustees for the Union Theological Seminary. He is also a co-chair for the Greater Washington Partnership's Inclusive Growth Strategy Council. He is a member of The Economic Club of Washington, D.C..

Leading the Washington Commanders

Wright giving a speech in 2021

In August 2020, Jason Wright was hired by the Washington Football Team. He became their team president. His job is to lead the team's business side. This includes things like money and marketing.

This was a very important moment. Jason became the first Black president of an NFL team in history. He was also the youngest active team president at the time. He is only the fourth former NFL player to become a team president.

Jason helped the team change its name to the Washington Commanders in 2022. He played a big role in this rebranding process.

For his work, Jason received the "Best Hire of 2020" award from the Sports Business Journal. He was also named to Black Enterprise magazine's "Top 40 under 40" list in 2021. This list recognizes successful young Black professionals.

Personal Life and Family History

Jason Wright's family has a strong connection to civil rights. His great-great uncle, Charles Gomillion, was a professor. He was involved in a very important court case in 1960. This case was about voting rights and helped lead to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This law helped protect the right to vote for all Americans. Jason's middle name, Gomillion, honors his great-great uncle.

His paternal grandfather, Harvey Wright, was also an educator and activist. He started several chapters of the NAACP in Texas. The NAACP is an organization that works for civil rights. Jason's sister, Allison, is a public defender in Massachusetts. A public defender is a lawyer who helps people who cannot afford legal help.

Jason was married to Tiffany Braxton in 2007. They met when they were students at Northwestern. He is also good friends with Michael Blake. Michael Blake is a politician who also went to Northwestern. He helped Jason when he became president of the Commanders.